 We're so lucky we actually have the playwright, as well as the translator for this piece with us, Ivor Martinic and Thomas Lav Kuzmanovich are both here. And I just wanted to quickly introduce also Shira Melikowski, who will have directed the reading, who has directed the reading beautifully. So without further ado, I'd like to invite you to watch. My son just walks a bit slower. My son just walks a bit slower by Ivor Martinic, translated by Thomas Lav Kuzmanovich. One. The grandmother, seven years old, is sitting at the table. She knows she is in the dark, but she doesn't know why the light is not switched on. A long time ago, she used to sit at the table in the light. Mia, her daughter, 50 years old, enters. She carries a plastic bag with two cups of yogurt. She's tired even though she was taking her time. She was in no hurry. She walks slowly when going back to her house. She switches on the light. She sees where she lives. And then, even more tiredly, she sits down next to her mother. You've been in the dark again. They haven't switched on the light for you. You couldn't find it? Right there by the fridge, that's where you turn it on. I will save it. You mustn't be in the dark. It's sunny outside. Streets are full of people. Everyone's out. And where's Slavko? It's been a long time since I've seen him. He's dead, Mom. Dead? And Nevia? Dead, too. He died last year. You couldn't go to his funeral. And Oliver? Alive. Son of a bitch. Mom. Which one I ended up marrying? Oliver, Mom. I brought us a couple of yogurts, Walton. You haven't had anything for breakfast. At least have a yogurt. A yogurt? Go walk a bit, then, Mom. You need to walk, that's what the doctor said. Come on, you'll feel better. Anna stands up and walks slowly. Robert, age 50, enters. Good morning. I'm sorry I cried last night. I'm going to go down to the kiosk to get the papers. He slams the door on his way out. Was that Victor? No, that was Robert and my husband. Son of a bitch, Mom. And where's Victor? Dead. And auntie? Was it a fire or something? No, Mom, we're just old, that's all. Come on, Mom, walk. You have to walk, that's what the doctor said. You'll feel better. Anna walks like an old woman. Doris, age 20, enters. Bronco still asleep? Yes. Be nice today, Doris. Mom, please. Where's Dad? Went out. I'll go find him, I need some money. Want some breakfast? Breakfast? Yes, if you want some, if you're hungry. What? There's yogurt. I'll get some coffee at the cafe. Wait. You've got an eyeball girl from sleep. There, I probably missed it when I watched my face. How about me? You're good. Are you ready? There, now we're both pretty. All three of us. And Bronco too, of course. He's got the prettiest eyes. See you later. See you later, Grandma. Oliver, the grandfather, 70 years old, enters. See you later, Grandpa. See you later, sweetie. See you. I'll head down to the library and get the papers. Robert said he'd buy it. I'm just the same. I prefer to read the papers there in peace. You're a slow reader because you're stupid. See you. See you later, Dad. Tire? Tire? From walking? No. When you get tired, sit down. Anna sits down. Mia and Anna are sitting. For a moment, you can't tell which one is older. You should have been up by now. Let him sleep. Let him sleep. If only you'd fall in love. Want something to eat? The whole morning, you haven't eaten a thing? I'm saving. Bronco enters in his wheelchair, slowly. Good morning. Good morning. Who moved my wheelchair? It wasn't by the bed. I don't know. Maybe the draft moved it away. Next time, just yell, and I'll come help you. I don't mind. Mia kisses Bronco. They say on the radio, it's nice outside. How are you, Grandma? Well, you see, I'm old. Could have opened the windows, let some sun in. I will. There's yogurt. Want some? No. I took your mother the whole day to give birth to you. You were a stubborn baby. I pushed and pushed, but you just wouldn't come out. We waited for you a long time. I had to walk around the hospital, small steps. The doctor kept saying, walk. You need to open. Walk. You need to walk. You were a beautiful baby. What a shame. I'm going to the park. I want me to take you there? I'll manage. And open the windows. Stay in the shade. Bronco exits. Anna and Mia say nothing for a while. They've forgotten something. Mia remembers, stands up and runs to the door, and happy birthday. She opens the window, happy birthday. I gave birth to him yesterday, and today he's 25. 25 is half of 50. And 50 is half of 100, and 100 is eternity. So annoying that the illness picked him. It's so annoying. I still don't know what to get him. We paid a fortune for that wheelchair. If only he'd gotten sicker later, we could give it to him now. He'd smile and say, thank you. That's just what I needed. Now I can go to the park, push myself around, cuss a little, and feed the pigeons. Fuck them damn pigeons. They don't need legs. Some of the pictures had wings. Come on, mom, walk. The doctor said you have to walk. Come on, it's healthy. Anna walks. If only you'd fallen low. Rita, Mia's sister. And Michael, her husband. Are standing in front of the open door. They whisper to each other and peek inside. Rita holds a string of dozens of colorful balloons in her hand. We won't stay long, OK? Oh, wait outside. Can I? No, you can't. We have to wish him a happy birthday. We just have to. He's family. We won't stay long, trust me. I won't trick you. I know you don't like being here. When I told my family I was getting married, mom threw up. It was odd to see my own mom's vomit, the meat, the potatoes. She never took to me. Never. What's more, she hates you. Why am I? You're a grown man. She's not the only one who hates you. My father hates you too. I was a smart girl, and you were a salesman at a woman's boutique. He shook my hand hard the way. By then he was drunk as a skunk. Let's go. We won't stay long. We won't stay long? We won't stay long. Rita and Michael take a deep breath and walk in fighting somewhere. Maybe they're not at home. Is there anybody? Nice, you dropped in so early. We're busy in the afternoon. That's why we're busy in the afternoon. We won't stay long. And you, Mrs. Anna, you look younger by the day. Cut the crap. Language, huh? And look how pretty you are. Let me give you a kiss. Rita walks to her mother and gives her a kiss. Mrs. Almighty! When was the last time you washed your hair? My baby. Come on, Mom. Let's give you a shower. I showered. Not this month, Mom. You didn't. Not this month. Rita and Anna exit. Balloons in their hands. So what is it you're doing in the afternoon? Something we can't post on. You don't want to come to the party? We're busy. You've been avoiding this house like it's cursed. Back when I celebrated my birthdays, you used to come and watch me as I walked around in the nicest dress that could be found in your boutique. It's been a long time since then. It has, so what? Time has passed, so what time passes? Time passes because it has to. Can't stop, right? It can't. I'm still a pretty woman. Men still smile at me in the street. And you still think I'm pretty, right? You're getting prettier by the day. Cut the crap. You'll come to the party. It's my son's 25th birthday, and we need to celebrate. I'll have to talk to Rita. She's been tired lately. I'm tired, too. My ears are buzzing from exhaustion. And I smell. The older I get, the more I smell. Just like this house that's decaying in its own rot instead of becoming a museum. I'll talk her into coming. And tell your son to call Bronco and wish him a happy birthday. I've already told him. He hasn't called. He'll call me after noon. How's he doing? He's managing just fine. You talk to him every day? Yes. It's not easy for him to be so far away. That was his choice. Has he got a girlfriend? He goes through them so fast, so many names. That's all right, he's young. Bronco's going to find someone, too. Just tell him to call him. In the house at the party, there will be too many old people. He has to call. OK. Rita and Anna enter with balloons in their hands. There's no shampoo. So I brushed her teeth. OK, let it be. I didn't mean to say that you're not taking good care of her. I didn't want to imply that you're lazy. She just smells. She's old. That's the way things get. You're taking good care of everything. Mom, what did you have for breakfast? Nothing. You're going to save me. I bought her a yogurt. She didn't want any. Mom, you need to eat. Are you hungry? Yes. There. Give me the yogurt. I'll feed her. Mia gives Rita the yogurt. This one's not good. It's for children's the only kind she likes. She's not a child. Right, Mom? You're not a child. No, I'm not. I'm old. Rita feeds her mother. Who is not a child? We forgot the present. I only took the balloons upstairs. I've completely lost my mind. I no longer know where my head is. My head is like this balloon, the pink one. Michael, the present's in the car. Look at it. Franco's not here. No? Where is he? He went to the park. Really? It's nice that the park is so close. They redid it nicely. I just saw it from the car. Are they fucking around that park of yours? In mine? The fucking. It starts already at 10 in the evening. Everyone's fucking with everyone. Men with men, women with women, in the usual kind of course. It's just horrible. In the morning, when I'm walking my dog, I can't even let it off the leash to do its business. It momentarily bites into a condom, and that's not good. You have to be careful about AIDS. It's a terrible disease. But it's nice during the day. The park is nice. I'm sure it's nice to while some time away. Yes. It doesn't matter. We'll leave him the present here. If we call them back now, we take him at least a half hour and come back in that wheelchair of his. That wheelchair is really clumsy. I was just talking to my son. I asked him why he doesn't spend more time with Franco when he comes to visit. He says, mom, I love Franco. But that wheelchair of his is so clumsy. I'm not a patient guy. And the wheelchair is clumsy. Got to pick a movie at the theater that has no steps, and then restaurants where there's enough room between the tables. And then there's the taxi. And you have to fold the wheelchair. And it all costs money. He's got a better wheelchair now. A wheelchair is a wheelchair. It's just clumsy. My son tells me. And then all those people who just can't stop staring. I mean, I stare at those that are different from myself. There's no malice in it. It's just that what's different somehow attracts you. And it was really neat when he had crutches. Then you couldn't tell whether he just broke his leg or just walks a bit slower. Can't use the crutches anymore. That's why I say it's a pity. When you saw him with those crutches, you thought, what a nice fellow. Well, he broke his leg. But he'll get better. I hope he likes the present. Shops are full of all kinds of things. It was a pain to choose. Michael, go get the present from the car. Maybe it would be better if we came later. In the afternoon? We're busy. We can't. Party is in the afternoon. It's something we just can't postpone. Michael, go. Michael, stay. Mia, Rita. Let's not. Margie. Cut the crap. Party is in the afternoon, and you'll show up for it. My son is turning 25 years old, and you will be here, OK? We've got a lot to do if we want to make it to the party. I have to take the cat to the vet. It's been lazing around the house these past few days. I'm worried it might drop dead on me. Those animals die so quickly. Their time is different from ours. You never know when they might just drop dead on you. We should have bought a parrot. They live about 100 years old, but you can't have a parrot and a cat. And also, how are you going to get the parrot? What if it doesn't grow on you? What if 20 years later, you realize you don't like the parrot? If you don't like what it says, but it is heard and what it keeps repeating, what then? Parents can't leave. You just can't open the window and let them fly away. Where would they go, for God's sake? We're not living in a jungle. I'm sure the cat will be fine. It would be a pity if it dropped dead on me. You've seen it. It's a nice kind, and has those three little white spots between its eyes. If it dies, I won't find another one like that. We'll have to take it to the vet right now, since we have to be here in the afternoon. What do canaries live for? Maybe we could get a canary, a green one. We've never had a green animal. Wait and see. Yes, silly me. Maybe it won't drop dead after all. Maybe it's just tired. I also get tired and often think I'll die, and yet here I am, still alive. Let's go. See you in the afternoon. See you. See you later, Mom. Please give her a bath. Bye-bye. Mia sits down next to Anna, who is still holding the string of balloons. You like the yogurt? Are you still hungry? No. Are you sure? I'm sure. I'll make a soup, and then I have to go by the present. Rita's lost weight, hasn't she? I don't know. Yes, she has. You can tell, don't lie. It fits her nicely. Yes. Michael's good to her. They tolerate each other nicely. Good for them. I know you never liked him. Rita was a smart girl. And I was pretty. Look at me now, Mom. It's fine. Nothing is fine. Yes, it is. Nothing is fine. If only we'd fall in love. Come on. Go walk a bit. The doctor said you had to walk. We all need to walk. That's what the doctor said. Come on, stand up. Let's go walk. Mia and Anna, who is still holding the string of balloons in her hand, walk. For a couple of moments, you can't tell who walks more slowly. And who's the mother, and who's the daughter? Two. Sarah, a friend, 25 years old, and Bronco are sitting next to each other. Sarah on a chair, Bronco and his wheelchair. Thanks for keeping me company while I'm waiting for your sister. It's really nice to wait with you. I'm sorry if I talk too much. Your sister's really nice. Many people love her, maybe not so much. Maybe because I'm not as pretty as her. What? I'm not pretty, and I'm big enough to know it. It's just the way it is, just as you're in the wheelchair, because you can't walk. You're pretty. And you can walk. See, there's no point in lying. But don't think for a second that I think I'm ugly. No, I have nice lips. I'm skinny. And sometimes, from a certain angle, I'm also pretty. But at the same time, I'm not pretty enough for someone to tell me I'm pretty, but I'm tall enough to be a model, just as you don't walk well enough not to need a wheelchair, or crutches, or a cane. Some girls can be models. Some can't. All of them can become doctors if they study hard, love blood, money, and saving lives. But you can't do too much to become prettier or taller. Taurus should be done soon. I always pick what'll be our advance. Black suits me. It's strange that there are colors. And then we can choose them. And then they make their faces that look different. You don't have too many friends. That's also strange. I've sent you a friend request on Facebook so many times, but you just won't accept my invitation. You won't, and you won't. There's so few people waiting with you. We can't be alone. Who told you that? We just can't. How would you get to know who you are if there are other people? You can't say good afternoon or good morning to yourself. You have to say good morning to someone. And if you don't, how do you know that it is the morning? Taurus, come on. You don't have to. Let it take you time. Here, my lips are sealed. OK, just one more thing. All I want to say is that we can't be alone or silent forever, which is what you'd like. That just can't be done. OK, maybe you can. I haven't tried it. It's not in my strong suit. But what's the use of words? Letters, lips, teeth, tongue. And all those other things, we're keeping quiet. Taurus! Who would you call if you were alone? Taurus! I just want you to talk to me. We can't be alone. For whom would the colors exist? Who would lie to me and tell me I'm pretty if there weren't for other people? Neither pretty nor ugly would exist then. It would be a shame if pretty didn't exist. Taurus! Sarah's been waiting a while. I'm sorry. I'm on the phone. I don't mind. It's his birthday, Sarah. Cheer him up. It's not a secret. I didn't know. Then I also have to give you a kiss. My big brother's turning 25 years old. I'll give you a nice present. But I still don't have enough money. I can't catch up with Dad. He's been running around this whole morning. Sarah, you know who's on the phone? No, Tim. Tim? Yeah, someone gave him my number. Can you believe it? Don't let him wait. I'm sorry. It's just that maybe I'm a little happy. Actually, I'm vulgarly happy. And it's your birthday. I'm sorry. Sorry. Thor's exits. She made me a little happy. I'm happy, too. What? For her, it's so hard to find a boyfriend these days. There's so many jerks around. Sometimes when I'm walking around town, I catch them spaying at my boots. There, you blast at them, too. But that's only because they mention them. You're different. Maybe because you spend so much time alone. Most of them are only interested in sex. Sex is the whole world. Wherever you turn someone's having sex, you turn on the TV and someone's having sex, you buy bread and someone's having sex, there's kind of yuck so much sex. You just kind of get again, you can't go without it, right? If they weren't for sex, there would be no children. Then there would be neither the world nor the earth. And yet again, just like some children are kind of yuck. Just like the earth is kind of yuck. I didn't get you anything for your birthday. It doesn't matter. No, otherwise I would have gotten you something. Why haven't you told me? I've been coming to your house for weeks and sitting with you, that you haven't told me anything about your birthday. You don't like birthdays. I don't celebrate mine. I hide and lie that I'm sick. A few people remember that it's my birthday so everything goes well. My birthday's in the winter, during flu season. It's easy to catch it and my immune system is weak. I'm so embarrassed I haven't gotten your present. It's fine. You have a Facebook profile, like no, it's your birthday. And then I say, happy birthday with a ton of exclamation marks that I'd like the photo where it's just you in it. That always makes me happy. He wants to meet me in 15 minutes. Oh, it's so silly of me. It's your birthday, Gringo. Please forgive me. Can you hear it? Wait. Wait. Now, it's all made. You're flapping your wings hard. There, I'm sorry. But I'll get you a present. I found such a wonderful present for you. I just have to catch dad before I get it. This whole day he's been running around somewhere. A wonderful present. Your sister's very pretty. I love pretty people. I have nothing against them. Some are pretty, some less so, some not at all. And that's the way it is. Your sister doesn't like me, but I'm not gonna give up. Even the prettiest people get bored sometimes and they need someone to go to the movies or have a cup of coffee within a Thursday afternoon when it's raining. It's hard to be alone. And we're alone so often, especially you. And we can't be alone. I tell you, join the Facebook. And you'll see millions of lonely people who are just gathering around themselves because they cannot be alone, even though they're lonely. And then we share things, thoughts, sentences, everything. Just to show we're alive. Should we send you a friend request? Thanks, but no. But it will be easier. No. How stupid of me now to get you a present. But I didn't know. Fine. Doris enters. She looks so beautiful that everyone is embarrassed. I'm sorry. If I stay a second longer, all the butterflies in my stomach will stop flying and I'll fall down and break my neck and drop that right here on the spot. I can't die today. I shouldn't have gone gray. The gray doesn't suit me. Are you sure you don't want a drink? No, thank you. You're so kind. And I'm embarrassed because it's your birthday and I didn't know. I would have gotten your present something nice but I didn't know. No, it's okay. Give me a hand. Because it's not okay that I haven't gotten your present. Close your eyes. Sarah puts Brockwood's hand in her dress. You're not wearing panties. They don't fit me. You're not afraid? You're not afraid of me? But I like to be a little afraid. Just a little. And now? Just a little. Brockwood moves his hand. Having no one is to birthday when he's gotten you something else. I need to go to the toilet. You're pretty again. You're pretty. Bronco exits. Mia and Robert are standing in the front of the entrance to their own house. Even though they often forget that this is their own house. Just as they forget that they are husband and wife. Where have you been? Look at the time. I got caught in town. You? Went shopping. And? I couldn't find anything. A shirt, maybe. Or shoes? Plenty of shirts. Shoes last him a long time. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. Shoes last him a long time. Maybe you're right. Maybe shoes. Mia, please. No, I'm fine. I'm really happy at Michael's boutique. I bought an address. I'll be able to show it to you. I'll see it tonight. You don't see well in the evening. You quickly fall asleep. I'll be able to show it to you. You really couldn't find anything for it? Nothing. Down the street, the stores are full of all kinds of things. We can just look at the windows. Just because we're getting old doesn't mean we can't hold hands. At least to keep each other from tripping over. I'm tired. It's a nice day. We don't have to hold hands. Our hands would get all sweaty for no reason. Please. You were always better at picking presents. There are too many things to choose from. I don't know anymore. Well, here, take more money. Please. Robert gives her a huge amount of money and exits. Robert. Wait. Robert. Ronco re-enters. I love you. Sarah. Oh, screw it. I love you. I shouldn't have said this. I know it. But I love you. That's the way things are. And do what you want with it. I don't know if I love you because I love you or I'm just in love with love. But, well, I've said what I've said and that's that. I could put my arms around you and hold you all day long. Nothing else would matter. I love you because I love you and maybe a little because I love love. I wouldn't hold you too tight just as much as you find comfortable. But I do it all the time. I'm sorry you don't love me. But I love you. Sarah puts her arms around Robert constantly but all the time. I love you because I also need you so that my days pass more easily. I'm not saying this because I'm selfish or because such is this world of ours. And without love, you can't live in it. You just can't. I've tried. And don't worry about it. You love me too. You just don't know it. If I start to bore you, well, we'll end it and I'll leave it. I promise many people left me. I know how to forget you. I just need to take long walks in the park, take deep breaths, now think about you, tear all photos of us and then towel pass and I'll be fine again. I love every part of your body. It's every inch, every molecule of your scent. I'm telling you all this because I don't want the things that can happen not happen. Not anymore. Everyone is lazy. No one feels like falling in love and they really want to be in love with you and they want to shout and yell, I love you. There. Now you know that I love you and you see what it'll do about it. I'll come back this afternoon for your birthday party. I'm sure you'll have one. I know. I'm a bit too much. But I'll come to this house in the afternoon. People are so sensitive with their birthdays. They're sensitive when they're getting old because when they're getting old they're dying. And we're getting old all the time. It's going to be a small party. It wouldn't be polite to make a big party. I'll wear a blue dress. Blue suits me sometimes. Okay. Sarah, it's you. Am I interrupting something? I'm just leaving. I don't mind today. I'll just need to leave this dress here and then I'm going back out to catch some air and to get a present and to tell my son I love him so much. I've been in a terrible hurry the whole day and I didn't tell him that. I love him so much I could pop like those balloons that pop when there's too much air in them. It's so nice to hear this that a mom loves her child. And it's also a little sad. What's sad about it? Well, the balloon. I'm going. I'll be back in the afternoon. For the birthday party. See you. I haven't even offered her a drink so few people come over that I forgot. Is she bothering you? No. She's such a bore. If you want me, I'll tell her not to come to the party. No need for that. She's strange. She talks a lot. She says all kinds of things. She's really strange. There's all kinds of us. Don't look at me like that. What is it? I'll send her packing if she bothering you. She's not. Are you sure? I don't mind. Don't think I have anything against her. I just don't want her to bother you. I haven't said anything. If you like her, I don't have a problem with that. What I mean is that it would be nice if you had a girlfriend but maybe it doesn't have to be her. I know what kind of girls you like. I know what kind of magazines you buy. Don't have to be ashamed. Such girls will come too when you decide to go out among people more often. I'm sure you'll find a girl like that, one that's careful about what she says and how she acts. If you want me to like her, I'll like her. You're so difficult to talk to. I haven't said anything. It would be a shame if she ruined your 25th birthday party. When I was 25, I don't remember anymore. It was such a long time ago. And look at you. You're a quarter of a century old. A quarter of a century? That's a lot. An awful lot. Oh wait, we haven't taken one picture today. We need to have a memory. Mia runs to get her camera. Bronco doesn't like to have this picture taken. Maybe I could take your picture by the window? Come on, let me help you out. You can stand by the window. You can lean against it. Mom, I'm tired. Come on, I'll help you. It'll be a nice photo. We'll send it to our relatives. Come on, stand up. Take a picture of me as I am. Just one photo by the window. It's such a nice day, huh? Here, we take your photo by the window. It would be a shame to break such a tradition. Mom, I'm tired. Mia takes a photo of Bronco. Turn out okay? So-so. The light's right behind you, so you can't see too well. We'll take another one later on when you're sitting by the sofa and eating your cake. Everyone will gather around, so it'll be happier. Andrews. Good evening. It's not evening yet, Mom. Are you hungry or warm up the soup? I don't want any. You have to, Mom. You have to. Mia exits. Where is everybody? Who? Your friends. They're not here. They died in the fire? No, Grandma. I'm not old. You're not? You're old. And where are your friends, then? The fewer people around me there are, the better I walk. I forgot that you don't walk again. It's a shame. And it took your mother a long time when you were born to you. There was this victim. Have I ever told you about him? You have. I have. He's all a blur somehow. I don't know if I loved him. It's all a blur. He was good in... how do you say it? In the sack. I know. He wasn't handsome. He was somewhat ugly. But he knew his way around the bed. He had strong arms. And he'd hold me in his arms the whole time. I know, Grandma. You told me. Yes, I told you. But I no longer know anything else about that. I remember only that he had strong arms and that he held me. Did I love him? I didn't. I'd forgotten it all. You loved him. You think? You loved him a lot. He's the only thing you talk about ever since he got sick. What else do I say about him? That he took you on a journey. What? Journey? Where would I go? Around the world. He bought you fur coats, jewelry. He was rich. No. Come on. Yes, and you really loved him. Sounds like a wonderful man, that victim. Yes. I'd forgotten him. And where is he now? He's dead. Fuck! Did I cry a lot? I don't know. I must have when I loved him so much. I must have hurt. Good thing I forgot that. If only birthdays could be forgotten. They can. But those around us fuck it all up. They remember. You know I know that you're lying to me a little, Franco. I know, Grandma. And you know I know he never took me anywhere. I know. But we're pretending a little. A little? Just a little. So that it gets easier. If only you'd fall in love. Mia enters and puts a pot of soup and a bowl in front of Anna. I'm going to take a shower. Be careful you don't slip. Shout if you need help. Bronco enters. Mom, eat. I'm saving. Come on, please. You haven't eaten anything. I wouldn't eat anything around here. We're people we need to eat. We're people, aren't we? It's a shame. Come on, Mom. Please eat. At least you have to eat something. Mia runs away. Have you turned off the stove? Don't forget to turn it off because of the fire. Those fires get going just like that. Damn fire because everything goes up in flames. Who are you talking to? What's it to you? There's no one here. You don't see well. You're stubborn. And you go fuck yourself. Stop swearing, please. And you go fuck yourself, you motherfucking son of a bitch. You didn't used to swear like that. I don't know. I don't remember. Well, I do. Maybe you never heard me. I keep forgetting things. That's why I swear. They told you I was sick, right? I forget things so I forgot I don't swear. Eat. You can talk to me nicely. I can when I want to. Where is everyone? They left. Do you want me to give you some soup? I'm not hungry. Oh, come on. You need to have some soup. I'm sure it's tasty. I'm not hungry. I don't want any. Well, there, it's not completely cold. Anna doesn't want the soup. Well, I'll feed you spoon by spoon. Anna doesn't want the soup. It's right here in front of me. Well, I don't have to feed you. Here's a spoon. Anna attempts to pick up the spoon, but she can't. Here it is. Pick it up. Anna picks up the spoon. She's full with the soup and spills it all over herself. Here, let me. You're spilling it all over yourself. Now, let me help you. You're spilling it. Leave me alone. Let go. I should have come. I know how to eat the soup. You son of a bitch. Go home. Leave me alone. At least I can eat on my own. I must leave quietly. Why are you sneaking around? If I keep forgetting things, I'll be dead or blind. I don't want to upset you. That's an illness, Oliver. You do understand that, don't you? Yes. I know you're having a hard time. It's not easy for me either that you're getting on my nerves so much. But what can I do? I'll be better tomorrow. You never know? Are you sorry, Oliver? Because you're sick. No. No. Because you're alive. What can I do about that? Well, I'm going to the park and have a walk. I'll be back later. All right. Go walk. Do you need anything? It's strange that even though I no longer know anything, nor do I know what I used to know, it somehow seems I've never heard those words from you. Do you need anything? I don't remember. You don't remember. Who's sick here, Oliver? Don't go. Go. Just leave. You leave it. That's what I remember well. Mia Enders wearing the party dress. You swore at him again. A little bit. Don't swear too much in front of him. That gets to him. You went through so much together, that's not fair. What did we go through to get it? All those years. We couldn't have forgotten all of them. Maybe they weren't too important. Mom, you spent your whole life with him. Well, maybe he wasn't important. Mom, I think you should be quiet now. The doctor said that too. Keep it quiet for a while is good. That's what the doctor said to tell me. Today is one of those days where you forget things a bit more than usual, but tomorrow you'll remember everything. All those years and the nice moments and why you loved dad. Tomorrow you'll know why you're with him and not with Victor Slavko, Ivan, Igor, Goran. It must have been a terrible fire. Everything will be clear tomorrow, mom. Now just be quiet for a while. And walk, mom. Walk. And it walks. It fits you nicely. You like it? Yes. Do you remember the first time you told me a dress fitted me nicely? You just said what you said and I dragged you behind the garage. What can you do? I was pretty and stupid and I never needed a lot of courting. It was easy to be young. The whole world was before us. Everything seemed possible. We didn't know that then was the future and everything that came after that was the past. I loved you so much. I love you so much. And I just love it if you came with me to get that present. I'm too busy. Everything will be fine. There's plenty of time. I don't know how to be as mom. Maybe I want you less but I need you more. Please stay with me. Don't keep leaving me like this all alone for days on end. I just need to hold on a little while longer and then once again a time will come when I won't meet your love. I'm not with you to be happy but to be unhappy more easily. We love or we did love or we will love each other. Who can even know what time or tense or whatever but I need you. I needed you and I will need you. How are you? How are you? My back hurts. I'll give you a massage. Robert sits down. Mia massages his back or maybe she's killing him. It's hard to say. Better? I don't know. It still hurts. Here? Now it hurts more. Mia massages his back. I remembered Victor. Where's my Victor? He's dead mom. Victor gave good massages and he was good. I know mom in bed. Yes, in bed. I loved him. I know mom, leave us. It hurts. And nephew? Where's nephew? Was it a fire or something? No mom, you're just old. Better? It hurts. How about now? You're hurting me. You're pressing too hard. That's how you do it. You need to press hard. You'll mess something up. And Victor, are you sure he's dead? I know what I'm doing. That's how you do it. That's how I'm massaging Bronco. The doctor showed me how. Now it hurts even more. Maybe he's not dead. Maybe he's just hiding. Or, and then we'll realize that we made a mistake. And all of this is one huge mistake. How else can you explain all this? All those deaths and fires. And all the things that are being born. And this time. It hurts. Let go of me. It hurts. I'm going to the park to have a walk. Open the windows to let the air in. Are you tired? From what? From walking. No. If you're tired, sit down. Anna sits down immediately. Mia sits down next to her. Please sit. Balloons should be blown slowly so that you don't get tired. And then you should tie them tightly. But nevertheless, after a while the air goes out. I don't know how. If it doesn't go out, they pop. There, that. Mom, I've forgotten. Mom, be quiet for a while. There, you haven't eaten anything. You're not hungry? I'm saving. You don't like the soup anymore? The soup? I don't know. You don't even know that there's soup in front of you? Okay, maybe a little. It's done. It's cold now. I haven't eaten anything. All right, I'll warm it up. What kind is it? Mushroom. Mushroom? Yes, you do. It's just that you forgot. You forget your husband's name. How would you not forget if you loved mushroom soup or not? Son of a bitch. That's my husband's name. Mom, be quiet. If only we'd fallen well. Three. Mia is sitting at the table. Doris enters. She turns on the light. She sees where she lives. And then she sits down tired. You're in the dark again. I'm resting. You mustn't be in the dark. Where is everyone? They left. They have things to do. You've been crying. Doris wipes the smear makeup off her mother's face. For a moment, you can't tell who's the mother and who's the daughter. Leave it. Let me do it. Where have you been? At a cafe with some boy. It's Bronco's birthday. You need to spend some time with him. It's not easy to be alone all the time. You never think of that with that pretty head of yours. I was just like you. You're having a nice time enjoying yourself. You'll always have it easy. I like that boy. His name is Tin. He's very handsome. We were having coffee. And then he touched my hand with his little finger. Briefly. Just for a little moment. What do you want me to say? I just want you to try and be a little happy for me. What color is his hair? I'm sorry. We'll be fine, you know. We just need a little more time to recover from that illness of his and then I'll be happy for you. I know. I'm just a little sad. I'm falling in love. That's why. I'm scared. That's okay, right? How not to be scared of something that's just beginning. Who knows what will come later? Is that when some things are just beginning? I think of Franco, and I feel scared of that illness that Philip Pondham unannounced. Didn't ask anyone. Just Philip Pondham. That's the one thing what might have understand. Why them of all people? Why those big, beautiful, blue eyes of his? How can you know who else is going to take helping you choose a person who will be dear to you when you know something like that might happen again? So unannounced. So terribly brood and you know it will hurt so much. I know it's not the day, nor the place, nor the year to ask all these questions, but I have to. See, I bought this dress and I'm happy. And all because of the dress. It fits me nicely. Michael gave me a discount for the next thing I buy. And they also have a prize contest. It's a new thing at the boutique. Maybe I'll win a prize. I'm going to change. I don't want to get my new dress dirty. Some things need to be saved and used moderately. Nice dresses, love, tears and things like that. Go, go see that boy. Go catch some air. But I have so many questions. There's so much I need to do. Go, go. When will you be my mom? You will be better. Mom. Go. Me, it closes the door after doors. It opens the door. She observes me and they look at each other. Hello. Sit down. So I came early. That's nice of you. What else can I do? Oh, thanks. Not even set the table? Cake's not done yet. It's not? I threw the first one away. We're mixing another. I meant to bring one. But it's a nice day. It would melt in this beautiful weather. It's okay. It doesn't have cancer. Sorry, I forgot. I didn't even ask how it was doing. Never mind, it's all right. I'm mad again. I don't like letting it out much. You just have to let it out. To at least get laid. And how's the dog? It's fine. It wasn't pleased that the cat doesn't have cancer. But what can you do? It'll get used to it. How did you get here? We drove. I saw a car crash. Still shaking. Anyone dead? Lots and lots of blood. Cars are... Can you think of it so fast? And they're so insecure. I mean, by God. Is there anything on wheels that is safe? Is there anything that goes around in circles that is safe? Not even the Earth is safe. It's round. Earth quakes all the time. The Earth used to be a flat plate. Back then, there weren't any cars. Everything was safe. And where's your husband? He went to have a look at the new park. They redid it. Yes, so you said. It's nice. They redid it. Yes. It's somehow quiet. I remember that before the party in Brooklyn's showroom. He can do it all by himself? Yes. That's nice. That he can do it by himself. That's nice. That he can do it on his own. If you also had to help him have a shower, that would take too much of your time. And it's good that the bathroom door's big. That's nice so we can pass through it. And when you think of it, it's nice that you all live in a big house with wide doors. You can't sleep. I ran out of pills. Valerian. They are no good. I discovered a new con. They just invented them. I made a reservation on the internet. They ship them from Canada. Fantastic. Rita opens her bag and pours out thousands of pills. You and Michael are fine? We're managing. Glad to hear it. Yes. You look good together. There was a time when you didn't look so good together. He's gaining weight lately. He eats a lot. I tell him, don't eat so much. A bigly pig. But he doesn't listen. Strange that you're married. We all thought you'd never get married. Me too. I was smart and ugly. But unlike me, smart and talented. I could have traveled the whole world. That's how smart I was. And as ambitious as I was ugly. So why did you get married? Why did I get married? Why do you ask? Why I got married? Sometimes. Late at night. I watch TV. Something about mummies. About the bad Chinese. Zombies. I get scared. I get scared. I get scared. And I go to bed. And I hug my husband firmly. That's why I got married. Because of bad Chinese people? I don't know. Maybe they were Japanese. Your son called. He talked to Bronco. We told him to call. I was really nice to him. I'm sure he's got a good. He has. He works in a different town. My Bronco walks too. Just a bit slow. He's good, my little boy. And see, I haven't even managed to make him a cake. And you have a husband who's looking at parks and childs who's getting good. My baby boy called last night. He got a raise. And tickets for three new journeys to far away lands. He's talented. And ambitious. He takes after me. He's already seen all the continents. And he's so young. He called to tell me that. And I didn't know what to say. His success doesn't bring me as much joy as it used to. I no longer know why. He hasn't forgotten you, Rita. I know he hasn't. I'm forgetting him. And it's not a problem that I'm forgetting him. But that I like him. He irons his shirts better than I did. A little egocentric jerk. He's okay. I don't know. Luckily, I've got my dog and my cat. They're smaller. And they're happy about you. Until they get cancer or drop dead. And a canary, too. I think I'm going to get a green one. You can get a sturdy cage these days. I don't think the cat will eat it. And even if it does, what can you do? I'll get a blue one. I've never had a blue animal before. I get along with animals really well. I think that's because we don't speak the same language. You'll need to give me those Canadian pills. Sure. I spend a lot of money on medication. If only I could pray to God and believe it's cheaper. But it doesn't work for me. Have you ever tried? I never found it convincing. But you know what helps? What? Well, before I go to sleep sometimes I imagine just for a little that my son is walking. That's nice. I also sometimes imagine things my son's gay. There, I've said it. How are you? Fine. It's not easy that. Being homosexual. But then I'm thinking he's not crazy either. Michael? I haven't told him yet. I'm waiting until he pisses me off. No. I just want to yell at him. Maybe he gets a heart attack and dies. You never know anything. No, you don't. Anna enters. She's looking for something. I can't find that fur coat Victor bought for me. He never bought a fur coat. Yes, he did. Franco told me. Mom, stop. Come here, let me kiss you. Rita kisses her mother. Where is he now? Victor? He's dead. Dead. Only after a long time when you found out. You said you left him. Left him? Why? You went back to Dad. Why would I go back to him? I never loved your father. We don't know, Mom. You're lying. You're lying, little bitches. You're lying and I gave you everything. You're lying, little bitches. Shut your mouth, Mom. Ever since you got sick, stop it. 180 episodes and that was it. The main character's letting and poof. Darkness. The end of program. Why don't you already stop talking about love, Mom? If only we'd fallen in love. Son of a bitch. Annalies. Rita follows her. What happened? Mom's going on about Victor again. I made a hand with anything. We're okay. Dad, do you regret now that you're old and you'll soon die? Do you regret that you married and had all this? Dad, that was a question. Do you regret having all this? Do you regret marrying Mom now that she's so sick? I'm old. I don't know. Come on. You can tell me. You're old. You'll die soon. I won't tell anyone. Tell me, Dad. Do you regret having a family now that you're this old and about to die? Do we mean anything to you? We, these empty shells all around you, ugly and stinking? Does all of this mean anything to you now that you're so old and about to die? How do you want from me? Well, just tell me, is it worth it? Is all of it worth it, Dad? This, this, that I'm crying for Bronco, that it hurts so much. Do I have to do it like this or should I just stop worrying so much about the pain? We're all going to die just like you. I mean, you're already old. You're just about to die. You're already dead and you haven't told anyone. And in all those years, I've never learned anything from you and you'll die and I'll never, and I never will. Dad is living worth it. Mia puts her hands on his shoulders. There, at least I touched you. Let's go find you a tie for the party. It's a 25-year-old's birthday. Nevertheless, let's go. Mia and all of your exes. Bronco enters. I want to see where he lives. Anna approaches him. She cried a little. Can't find that fur coat Victor bought for me. Maybe it's in the attic. We don't have an attic. We don't have an attic. Yes, it must be in the attic. A moment ago, I remembered everything again. There was no Victor. What you remembered is wrong. Don't think about it like that. You've talked only about Victor ever since you got sick. There be no Victor, Bronco. There was no Victor. I made it all up. There's no Victor. He doesn't exist. I had a bored life. There's no surprise I'm forgotten. That life just kept going and going. And I thought that maybe something would happen, but nothing ever happened, and then I made up what I made up. I lied a little, and then when I forgot everything, the only thing I didn't forget was what I lied about. It was the most beautiful. And Bronco, don't tell Oliver about this. What's wrong? Nothing. Grandma. She's having a tough day today. I suppose so, yes. I wanted to tell you that if you ever feel like you want to tell me something, you should know that you can. I'm fine. I can take it. I just wanted to tell you this so that you know whatever you need. I love you. I haven't bought you a present yet. I no longer know what you want. You're growing up and your beard is growing out so fast you need to shave every day. Maybe I should get you a shaver or something. I love it when your face is soft like a baby's tushy. You've got me enough things. Nonsense. We don't mind spending money on you. Tell me what you want. Nothing. I know that it's annoying. It's your birthday. We have to get you a present. I have to go to the stores before they close and they'll close any second now. Do you want to come with me? Pick something for yourself? You know I can't go fast and you'll be in a hurry. The stores are open for another half hour. I don't know if I'll have enough plates for the cake. Sarah's coming? Yes. Maybe she won't want cake. And if she will, we'll give it to her on a plastic plate. Sarah loves me. I can take the plastic plate. No. I don't love her. Then we won't need any plastic plates. Do I have other powers? I don't love her but she loves me and that's just fine. What are you saying? I need to practice this life a little more. You deserve someone much better than her. Much better. Don't look at me like that. Mom, forgive me. I can't walk. I can't walk. I will never walk again. And that's just the way it is. It's very simple. All of this because I'm your mother. Your illness is my illness except that mine's more difficult because unlike you, I can walk. I know. But I'm better, trust me. Today I didn't cry so much. And I don't tell our neighbors that you just walk a bit slower. See how much better I am? This morning I went to the store and I said it was your birthday and the cashier asked me how I was and how you were and I said you were fine. I said you didn't walk at all but you were fine. That you no longer walked a bit slower but that you didn't walk at all. And he looked at me with sympathy but I was proud I could say it. You do not walk, you drive. What? There you go. I'm saying it. You can't walk. My son doesn't walk. His legs do no work. There's nothing else. Come on. Tell me about my second birthday when I learned to walk. You are such a beautiful child. Really beautiful. You made your first steps there by the fridge. In the beginning you kept falling but you'd get up instantly. I'd hold your hand a little and then I'd let go but as soon as you realized that I wasn't holding your hand you'd fall. And then slowly you stopped falling and I no longer had to hold your hand. And ever since then you've been running as far away from me as you could. In my 20th? I took you to a dance club. Everyone looked at you strangely as you tried to dance but I wanted you to be like everyone else. So I danced with you. In the almonds cake? The bitter cake. I guess the almonds went bitter. I was so uncertain I could have flown into the air but I didn't know if my cake was really bitter because when I wanted to taste it it was gone. You ate it whole. That's how much you loved me. I know I've got to let go. It's alright mom. We'll take it slowly. I love my life. It's not that I don't. I love it that I am the way I am and at least I know I'm alive. And I love that Sarah loves me and that's just fine for now. Mia takes her camera and takes a photo of Bronco. How'd it turn out? It's good. It's a nice photo. I have worn this tie for 30 years. They're back in fashion. I've seen it in the papers. Oh, I look ridiculous. Mom, tellin' me looks nice. You talkin' to me? Yes. What does dad look like? Nice. There you go. Okay, if you say so. Shut up you son of a bitch. You woke me up. People here already. It's late. It's such a beautiful day outside. It's really sunny today. I'm so clumsy. I haven't done anything yet and the time just flew by. Everyone, let's get ready for a party. Bronco is turning 25 years old. You're getting old. They scatter around the house. Everyone wants to make the decaying house look better. Robert approaches Mia. Mia, I hadn't told you. What? My back doesn't hurt anymore. We slowly died and we haven't noticed it. It dropped. I gave it proteins and other expensive stuff and then it dropped dead. Motherfucker, it didn't wait for me. Instead, it dropped dead like this unannounced like Michael bring me home. Where is all this going? We're all going to drop dead. Everybody drops dead. It wanted to wait for you. If it had wanted, it could have waited. Get ourselves a green canary or maybe a hamster. How long does that hamster live? What does it eat? How much love it gives and of course, how much it costs? I don't know. I don't know. How much love it gives and of course, how much it costs? A couple of years. Not more, I suppose. That's long enough. We'll think about it and then decide in the morning. It's a shame you can't buy butterflies. Little jerks. How smart they are. They just live for a day. Someone for one day. Someone for a thousand. Everybody drops dead in the end. If something happens, let's take a picture. Robert, a family photo. Come here. Mia gives her camera to Michael. Mia puts her arms around Bronco who is sitting in his wheelchair. And Robert puts his arms around her. Mia turns around as if something is missing and then she notices Doris. Doris, come here. Doris joins them. Michael takes the photo. How did it turn out? I didn't manage to fit you all in the photo. Fine. Bronco, Tin and Doris are sitting and having a drink. The decaying house is decorated with balloons. It's the end of the party. Tin, how old are you? Twenty-eight. You had your birthday left month, right? Yes, sure. I saw it on Facebook. You really have a lot of friends. You didn't put any photos on Facebook. Did you have a party? Yes, at a bar, just on the street. I got so drunk that evening. I've never gotten so drunk. Horrible. I kept throwing up the whole night the day after. Hey, do you want us to go down to the bar? It's still open and even if it's not, I know the owner and he'll let us in. Well, we could. No, it's better here. Over. It's so cool for me folks that they went to sleep at midnight till not this well. They're funny. I wouldn't bet my mom is in eavesdropping on us somewhere. Doris gets up and turning on her heels, watches around the house looking for her mother who's hiding somewhere. She looks behind the door. She looks under the couch. She looks behind the refrigerator. She's not here. Does anyone want another drink? Your folks have a fantastic taste in alcohol. So whiskey. The same, yes. Doris and Sarah pour drinks. Some bitchin' wheels you've got there, huh? Yes, it's a good wheelchair. Relatively new. I think this is in a wheelchair too. Those things cost some big bucks. Yes, they're expensive as hell. But it's good. It looks nice too. Let me see. Can I? Tin takes Bronco for a spin around the room. Look how it slides. Come on, Tin. Stop it. The tires are top quality. It's not hard to drive. Yes, it's really good. Hey, do you know what we need? Sarah goes to put some music. That's good. Let her play. Tin stands up and offers his hand to Doris inviting her to dance with him. Oh, no, no, no, no. Don't, please. Come on, what's wrong? Come on, you love to dance, and I want a guy asking you to dance so you don't want to. Why are you so embarrassed? Come here. Just for a little. Doris and Tin are dancing. Sarah and Bronco are watching them dance. Sarah gets up from Bronco's lap and takes his hand. Sarah puts her arms around him firmly and perfectly. A hug. End of play. It was a good time to go. I had a cup of coffee in case you stayed. Well, the next one, but always I think it's an important part to hear the voice of the artist. And you've moved from all the way from Croatia from Sagra? From Sagra? Yeah. So sit down here. Yeah. Maybe first of all, again, I'd like to give a round of applause for the actors. Of course, it's casting, but so much is also about the play, right? Which we sometimes forget. Tell us a little bit about the play. The play was commissioned by Zagreb Youth Theatre in 2011. And I wanted to write a family play, basically about the family and what family is. And especially the families in Croatia, which is like a very traditional kind of country where people are really stick with the families and we have lots of rules and everything matters in the family. And during the decades, I mean the family changed and I think there was a referendum three years ago about marriage and there was a referendum should it be in the constitution of Croatia. And they won't, yes, as a marriage to be a relationship between men and women. And it was a really kind of it was interesting to see this process because of how eager the people were to protect the marriage and to protect the family in this traditional kind of work. So this was about it. This was about to see what is the family today. Where is the you know not so hard in it or where is the what the family really is. I think just to put it in context and I hope I'm not misinterpreting. First of all we all have to know this is a play that comes now out of the the Balkans is a Croatian play you know the references the big fire thinks that it looms over these dark dark clouds. There's all this pressure cooker of a family where everything can pop and explode and then every a minute of course highlights you know the situation that perhaps the country finally is able to focus on itself in the tradition of eastern European plays you know which used to be communist propaganda plays a lot of it afterwards perhaps were absurdist plays or plays you know like the UNESCO's and others where you say they don't make any sense but that was actually what life was about. It was a reflected life. And then this idea of a discovery I think of inner worlds of a family and being perhaps happy that this is the biggest of the problem the family that we have now but still there are these there's this history that is looking over them and it reminded me of that old Joe where someone said you know what's a pessimist in the eastern European description what's an optimist and the pessimist says things can't even be worse and the optimist says yes they can and so but still the family I think you know at least try to stick together except of course for the brother who was absent but tell me is this for you also a play about the political play about your situation about the country about your feelings about the future it's so much where it will go or is it examination of love well I mean it is a political play in a way of what is the family today because it's trying it is changing the definition of the family is changing by every decades and so in that way I think this is a political play and of course it's have this feeling of of the family tradition where the traditional kind of ways and traditional kind of rules of the families are getting aside of the new of the new political systems or economical systems so in this way I think this is a political way this way also I think reflecting the loneliness and the loss they can't believe in God I mean they cannot really believe in a party system or something which you don't really go into but it was such a strong oppressive presence you know in life what was life supposed to be about what about to make you happy and not happy and I think you really try to understand that also to show what is falling apart but also some of the beauty of these very honest relations, uncensored thoughts that come here when they are almost ghosting so tell us a bit is that I don't want to be pop psychologist is this your mom or you can remember is it a combination of things the way you write is it about family and human situations you I started with writing a documentary kind of theater I mean plays based on the documents and the facts and then I this was like a commission for the big theater and they have like a ensemble of actors so I wanted to write like a big play for a lot of people to be in it and I knew this sector and I brought it for them in a way and I think it's also I mean of course there is some autobiographical moments in it but it's also the way how the Croatian people I think they speak in this kind of very without censorship it's a very direct kind of way we share the things and in English sometimes you have a feeling like avoiding something and in Croatia we are very direct and it's not like an aggressive kind of direction but it's kind of how we talk to each other and sometimes especially with the families we are really honest to each other and we really sometimes we can say really horrible things in our families but we do know that we do love each other and from that this kind of style came out being really trying to find the truth in every synthesis in every topic that I'm trying I think you really I think communicate a feeling perhaps how it must feel to be in that country or in Zagreb you always had kind of past which nobody really knows anymore doesn't want to talk about the uncomfortableness of the being in the present but being able to deal with and not really knowing what will happen to you how will the lives be of those young lovers and young people and the uncertainty of it and I think it gets very close to our emotions and minds and I think we all connect to it as a director to you what was beautifully directed so many air it's not so easy often to get messages in a bottle from a different place almost Europe sometimes in America two different stars and we think of values and what it's all about but how was it for you to work with that text? Yeah it's a couple things one is definitely the the comedy is always a challenge and I've done of course other plays in translation and there's this sense of okay we know that it's funny but cultures interpret and write comedy so differently so for me just hearing it presented to the audience for the first time there's so many things you think oh that's funny and that's also funny and we can go back and make that funny and it was fun to see where the comedy came out but I think the play deals with so many intense personal issues but there are lots of moments where it's not just I think in America we tend to connect comedy and lightness but in this play there's comedy with darkness and that's the thrill of it and that can be equally comic and there's a gap that we were working on and crossing over and crossing back and then the other side of it is actually the opposite it's this intense relatability that I found in reading it and that we found in working on it more than in other rehearsals I've had I found myself saying oh well this reminds me of my family and this way my family is sitting over here it's live streamed there's nothing like these people no and then other the actors started joining in and say oh yeah well we were dealing with sickness in my family and this happened so that there's this core as much as there's a cultural gap there's also this really core truth inside how family members are stuck together and need each other and push each other and pull and that's universal I think we found that immediately I love the reading you could really hear every word and you didn't really know what happened what would the next sentence be which I always think is great theater great comedy in a way very serious in darkness but also I think every character had dignity and you were laughing with them and I thought they really you felt for them for everyone even for the cat well it was not fair to die on the birthday coming to the pills in Canada which was also that wonderful moment with all the sense of the wheel is lifted where you see different layers of what you talk about what we do what we all do to survive and to not kill ourselves right away even so we all will drop dead but the pills came from Canada so tell us a bit about the challenges of translation for this and what you did to iron it out or actually I discussed he asked me how was the work on translating this play and he said it was easy because it was well written and that's how it always goes when the text is well written and it's not difficult to translate it what do you mean by well written well written because they are the closest of close readers I guess and then you find all those little bumps when the writers are struggling with you know delivering either the line or the sentence depending on what you're translating they weren't that many places or any at all in this text the challenge was maybe we've seen it a little bit here that you know Mikhail became Michael and Rita became Rita and so on and when I was translating I thought that it would be very easy to replace these names by you know some more American names or something like that and that maybe the play would be it would simply work better for the audience but then Evers said no we have to keep it this way and he wanted actually to maybe I don't know maybe the most difficult part was keeping this this aggressiveness of the language or maybe the swearing a little bit and so on I guess that if you know we wanted to if I wanted to polish it more I would probably tone it down a little bit it wouldn't be such a strong words in a sense because I guess I don't know I mean you're the American audience you can you know feel for yourself whether this was just a little bit too much or not it's not like when we talk to each other in Croatia maybe we are going to say something like that but it's not as bad you don't really mean it no no I think it was a fast moving Croatian family train that was a wreck or not no we don't know where it's going but I thought it was very fluid very musical and you're right there was very little fat in that play it was very trim and very confused and wrote a lot about it but we have so many great theatre people also the audience and part of our work here at the Segal is really to engage and to have you we always say we really need good theatre but we also need a good audience and we really appreciate that you come out in the middle of the day at the end of the day to come and listen to to play some voices from around the world from people you most probably never have heard but what is important to us is that often there are emerging playwrights and people say they should come here and you workshop a play these are really masters of their field, of their craft on planet earth so it's a real honor that you also came here so here's a chance to say something we have a microphone not only so we hear that but also it is being recorded it seems like in Croatia they deal with disabilities and then they do in America you seem to accept it as it is in America we'll see it as a problem all of you have a mental illness you need to see a psychiatrist all of you have a disability you need to have physical therapy and I'm going to say do you see any differences between our americas to use disabilities or illnesses and do you want to say something about that because that seems to be a major part of your work maybe you can I don't know about America it's my first day in America so I don't know much about it but I can say that in my country when I was writing this there was a one guy and his son who was two years old and he put the finger to the guy who didn't walk and he told to his father look at this guy he don't have a leg and his father took him in his arms and said really terrible things to him you shouldn't do this you shouldn't talk like this you shouldn't put the finger to this guy this kind of stuff and this was really wrong this was wrong attitude to do it because all he needed to do is just to leave the guy to leave the little boy to accept these differences and just not to put aggressive and not to put that there is something wrong with having seen these kind of people on the streets and this is something that in Croatia we don't do we don't we don't have in our garden we don't have disabled people who will come and introduce themselves to the small kids who are we don't have all this kind of politics that will introduce integrate people disabled people with kids which is the most important period in life to be aware of this and yeah that's Croatian part of this you know I'd say when Ivor and I had one Skype session about a month ago I asked him some questions about the play and one of the things that you talked about was the character of Mia and you said it was a particularly Croatian character this powerful matriarch figure who wants to control something and then her son has an illness and she really can't control it and I really just looked at the disability through the lens of that in terms of this is how all Croatian people are handling disability but I thought because I don't know any other Croatian people hello but I thought okay let's see how this family has this issue that is spinning out of their control and the play is this magnifying glass to look at how each person is dealing with that and what's really striking to me this is veering way off your question is it's clear to me that there seems to be a stream in the play and some people are okay with it even Bronco himself seems kind of okay and I don't know if this relates to the political situation you're referring to it seems like the older generation is trapped and struggling and can't accept and wants to control like Tin shows up at the end and he's like oh can I wheel that thing around it's cool which I think is at the root of the hopefulness inside the play in a way what you say with the premise of the play what's real love we all want to die but in a way they all have disabilities and we all have disabilities I mean everybody of the character you know the one that was the most obvious of course the one who couldn't who couldn't really walk yes please thank you I'll start by saying that we're wonderful the direction for the reading and the actors were great thank you and I don't really have a question I have a desperate need to share something here because I'm from Croatia too I'm actually a friend of a friend of yours and I haven't met him before and I didn't and I don't know about his work because I've been here for 20 years but I also lived in back there when it was before the war in Yugoslavia and I had a strong desire to counter what you were saying about the importance of the political dark cloud and also the sense of some oppression that's still kind of squeezing onto people and I will tell you because I know both worlds quite well right now like the east and the west it's a kind of an old fashioned idea that keeps limiting how we live and how we are perceived there are no good and bad worlds yes that country has it's past and past is a little dark but people have really but people have moved on and what they are dealing with which I think is wonderful in the direction it's universal, it's a family it's my son gay it's the disability issue life is not easy here this country is dealing with such tension racial tension for example so I get a little like worked up when I hear that you know over there in the east there are all these issues we are not stunted by it we are as complex as wonderful as fucked up as anybody else so this is a set which gives you that picture but I really just wanted to say take it out of the politics look above and beyond it on the other hand I mean Lehe just had one of the war criminal trials was just concluded so it is such a significant part I guess we all often live in when we lived in Berlin there was the wall who cares about the wall it doesn't affect us but it was such a big thing but I also think you are right it's a universal message and I think this is why this play is important I try to say that it does not focus on that it's really a step trying to put whatever is normal in quotation marks this was the reason why I wanted to keep Croatian names and I always told him I don't want it to sound like American I mean I don't want it to sound like it's not translated I wanted to have a feeling because I don't really I think that it can be read as an American play but it is Croatian play this is the way why we should accept each other and having a wider look at this I think we are coming to the end of the session the next play will come it was a great play actually I was in Sarger it was a fantastic town people are out on the streets in the cafes and celebrating life much, much more it would even be Corsair as a happier country than others I visited in the last years so you really brought us a great snapshot of life there thank you all for coming and I hope you will come back before the 6 o'clock meeting 8 o'clock meeting in 10 minutes I hope to meet you thank you all thank you all